Ruthie Ridley

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Q&A | Answering Questions You Asked

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•How do you balance blog and family?
I have gotten to the point where I really like to keep the  two separate. I try hard to shoot ahead of time.  I will shoot twice a month with my two photographers and then have content coming in every other week. This helps me to get organized and always be ahead. My plan is to work on content on Sunday evenings before the week begins. I often do this once the kids are in bed and Ben is watching sports! There are day-to-day tasks that need to be done and I often do them simultaneously with working out or before the kids get up. Sometimes I’m still working on things while they’re running around the house in the mornings. I will oftentimes catch up on Instagram, emails and all other social media platforms while the kids are at sports. It’s the perfect time to get work done.
•Do the kids ever ask to do photo shoots and get excited about it!?
My kids are funny! They have come to understand that when packages come in the mail for them they have to wait to shoot them first and then they can enjoy them. It has taught them a little bit of patience and they get super excited in anticipation! To be completely honest both girls want to be on TV and want to be “famous!” They all have their own unique style and sense of fashion! Judah will not wear something unless he absolutely loves it and so therefore he has to have a lot of say in what he puts on. The same exact goes for Ava… she is very keen on her outfits and not very flexible! I can appreciate this about both of them. Savannah is a lot more easy going when it comes to styling and is just your typical girl!
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•How did you start blogging?
Believe it or not I have had two other blogs before this one! The first one was called F-IT with Ruthie: food, fashion, fitness, fun. The other one was a food-based, health blog. I had lost about 30 pounds and I wanted to help other people do the same all through clean eating! Ruthie Ridley Blog was started after needing an outlet to create. I remember two years ago scrolling through Instagram and stumbling across Shalice Noel.  I was so intrigued by her ability to create and be herself, in spite of being a mom of 4! I decided that I would start my own blog, but I didn’t want to start something that would be silly or I would quit after a while. I spent quite a bit of time praying about it and asking the Lord to be on this project.

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•How do you balance and organize your time with all that you do?
I touched on this earlier, but I believe the key is being organized and planning ahead. I have also been able to accomplish a lot by waking up early! I get up at 4:30 AM pretty much 5 days a week. Getting on a schedule with my photographers and being upfront with brands, having a constant open line of communication with them has helped me stay on top of things and also come across as professional.
•What is your blog and Instagram strategy while you’re traveling? How do you keep it all together?
Again, this requires planning and being organized. I know my trips ahead of time so as long as I have content on hand and a schedule in place I am good to go! Engaging with followers and peers maybe difficult while traveling but I just kind of let everyone know upfront that I’m out of town.
* What is your best Instagram tip for the perfect feed?
I haven’t mastered the perfect Instagram feed, but my feed is something I pay a lot of attention to and work very strategically at making it aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  My biggest tips are find a theme and stick with that, don’t use too many different variations of filters and get the Planoly App.  Getting to see what your squares will look like ahead of time can help you create a beautiful tapestry without having to guess every time you need to post.

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•How did you and Ben decide on kids names?
Ben was pretty laid-back when it came to naming the kids. The name Ava was very popular at the time and I loved it. When I presented the name to him he loved it as well so we named our firstborn Ava. Originally we had agreed on Hannah for Savannah, but then we went to a movie entitled “Dear John.” The main girl in the movie was Savannah and we fell in love with that and said let’s do Savannah its way more modern! Lol For Judah we really wanted to name him after Ben but really loved the name Judah. Judah’s name is actually Benjamin Mark Judah. So we named him after Ben and added a second middle name! We call him Judah.
•What are your suggestions on where to stay and what to do in Lake Tahoe? 
We just visited! This is our favorite place to go as a family. Check out this full post on where to go and what to do here.

Shop The Post: (Dress is from Target… I linked similar styles)

 

Thank you friends for taking the time to ask questions via Instagram the other day! Hope you are all having an amazing week so far! Much love,

Ruthie XO


Reader Interactions

Comments

  8. simplygailg says

    Loved this post Ruthie. You always seem to have it together and it’s great to hear how you make it happen. You are a super woman and you have such a beautiful family. Love this yellow dress on you and those booties are the cutest! Thanks for the tip on the Planoly app! Xoxo

  10. Meileilan says

    This is such a great post Ruth. It is very informative and I feel like I am getting to know you more in a personal level. Love your blog

  11. Nicole Leffew says

    Aw I love reading your answers!! I knew your girls would want to be famous lol! You balance your life so well Ruthie! I love apps that let you see your squares before you post! Xoxo

  12. April says

    It is so nice to get to know more about you. You are absolutely right that planning and organization is the key to balancing everything in life. I like that you only take pictures twice a month as that seems a whole lot easier than doing them several times a week. I think your blog is great!

  20. Jennifer Frick says

    I had SO much fun reading this!!! I have loved getting to know you with each one of your posts, but it has been such a joy and bonus to get to know your entire family as well! Thank you so much for sharing your world with us! xoxo

    Jen | MrsJenFrick.com

  22. shellkayyp says

    Loved your answers! I have always wondered how you can be a mommy to three, with a full time job and blog! CRAZY!! I think I might have to start waking up at 4:30am as well just to get everything in line!
    I really respect you and thank you for all your hard work!
    I really enjoy following you. You are such an inspiration!
    xo,Shell
    http://acourageousbeauty.com

  23. taylorwalkerfit says

    I seriously do not know how you have the energy to do it all!! You are such an inspiration and hope to continue to grow in the blogging space. Keep up all the hard work. 🙂 xo

  24. Krista Williams says

    Feeling like a celeb RN like you answered my question specifically 🙂 hehehe

    You inspire me ma. I thought 5:30 AM was EARLY. But no – YOU! 🙂

    •How do you balance and organize your time with all that you do?
    I touched on this earlier, but I believe the key is being organized and planning ahead. I have also been able to accomplish a lot by waking up early! I get up at 4:30 AM pretty much 5 days a week. Getting on a schedule with my photographers and being upfront with brands, having a constant open line of communication with them has helped me stay on top of things and also come across as professional.

  26. Jaime Cittadino says

    Love you and your family!! It’s so inspiring to see other moms, working women, girl bosses accomplish their goals…and you fit into all three categories!! AND, can we talk about this dress?!!!! Is it new?? If so I’m running to Target now!!!

  30. Nicole says

    Love this post Ruthie, I had no idea you lost 30 pounds, THAT IS AMAZING! I am an early bird myself and reading that you wake up at 4:30 am made me laugh, I’m not the only crazy person I who does that! haha

    xx, Nicole
    http://www.nicolesometimes.com

  34. Jessica Sheppard says

    Girl, you are such an inspiration to me on so many levels! It is miraculous how we connected the very first week I started blogging…you are a God send and I glean more than you know from your words of wisdom and experience, as well as words of life and encouragement you throw on me every day! You are a priceless gift to me! Oh, you are killing it in this adorable, mustard dress and booties. You are the BOMB!

  38. thewordhermit says

    I love reading about how other bloggers do it all. It cracks me up (and sometimes annoys me) when people tell me how lucky I am that I get to stay home all day and write and take pictures. I wish that was all I had to do! I agree that being uber organized is key!

  39. suzanne says

    It sounds like you have found a great balance between blogging and family time. I am always trying to figure out how to be better at balancing the two!

  41. Erica @ Coming Up Roses says

    I love this, Ruthie! Totally agree with ya on the importance of planning ahead…it’s SO key with a family. Even tho my family right now is just my hubby and two cats! 😉 And Planoly is game changing. I’m on that app more than Instagram itself!

    Coming Up Roses

  42. Buddy Feinblatt says

    I’m very happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc. Pristina Travel

  45. Blythe says

    Why users still make use of to read news papers when in this technological globe the whole thing is available on web?

  46. Nannette says

    Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article!
    It is the little changes that produce the greatest
    changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!

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